Mounted flat element radio tube



April 29, 1947. s flgw g, JR "2,419,757

MOUNTED FLAT ELEMENT RADIO TUBE Filed May 31, 1944 2 Sheet-Sheefc 1 I ,14 II II II II 'II II J v v I lzmvgr rron 1 '1 April 29, 1947. A.'BINI\ IEWEG, JR 2,419,757

MOUNTE D FLAT ELEMENT RADIO TUBE Filed May 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Shet 2 I I I f Ill Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOUNTED FLAT ELEMENT RADIO TUBE Abraham Binneweg, J12, Oakland, Calif.

Application May 31, 1944, Serial No. 538,109

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to fiat element electron discharge tubes, and in particular to such tubes in which one or mor of the elements are mounted especially for ultra-high frequency low-loss purposes such that oscillatio is possible at low plate voltages. One or more of the elements is mounted for rigidity and spring support, as well as spacing from the case walls.

The object of the invention is to provide an electron discharge tube with a compact arrangement of electrodes, especially flat electrodes, and substantial supports therefor. The preferred form is that of a flat dielectric support athwart the casing with one or more electrodes attached to opposite sides thereof.

An object of the invention is that the element is rigid.

Another object of the invention is, the mounting is especially suited to high voltage ultra-highfrequency low-loss operation.

Another object is to provide direct leads not passing in curves within insulation; and to provide straight leads in cases Where it is necessary to pass along, or through, insulation of any kind.

Another object is to provide radial leads from an element or elements. Another object is to provide various arrangements of envelope constructions for the mount or mountings. One or more elements can be separately mounted and so best insulated from each other for high voltage operation.

Another object is to provide a mountin for an element or elements having a minimum of insulation against said element or elements.

I have discovered that existing designs fail at high voltages and high frequencies because of the insulation losses at the elements, or between element leads. The lengths of the leads, especially those in the insulation, must be limited, and these leads must be straight and direct, and not contain unnecessary inductances. The length of the insulation path through Which the leads must pass has been greatly reduced, and the insulation in contact with the elements has also been greatly reduced, resulting in radically better results at high frequencies, and voltages, by these novel constructions.

' Fig. I shows a plan View of a mount having grid, plate and cathode supported from a mica disc.

Fig. II is the elevation view of Fig. I showing flat grid, flat plate and fiat or ordinary cylindrical cathode or cathodes in place on the mount.

Fig. III shows a different form having at least one element wider than the others, for mounting and spring mounting purposes.

Fig. IV shows a mount supported from one side of the case.

Fig. V shows how either Fig. I mount, or Fig. III mount or Fig, VI mount, or Fig. X mount, which is similar to Fig. I, can be held between 2 parts of an envelope consisting of two or more parts sealed, clamped, or held together, with the mount between them.

Fig. VI is a mica insulator as used in Fig. I mounting. This insulator piece Ib, could also be a control element lb of metal which could be used in place of a grid element, if the tube were to be used for the production of cathode-ray beams of electrons. For example, piece Ib could be element 3a in Fig. III. The elements can also be mounted as in Fig. VI.

Fig. VII is a perspective view of a rectangular modification, front face removed.

Fig. VIII shows one combination employing the invention with unmounted plate and grid, but with mounted cathode. A diiferent clamping means for the laminated case is shown.

Fig. IX shows a set of elements, one or more of which is mounted in an edge-to-edge arrangement substantially in one plane.

Fig. X shows two elements riveted together with insulating rivets, and supported on stiff leads.

Although the elements are illustrated as being one above the other, they could be arranged side by side in the design of Fig. VI, or in the design of Fig. IX.

My invention is illustrated in its forms and applications in Figures I through IX.

Fig. I and Fig. II show an insulating plate I, of mica, isolantite, polystyrene plastic, glass, or other suitable solid or laminated material. To this insulating plate I, is riveted with insulating rivets or otherwise fastened, a metal anode 2, which should preferably be flat but which could be curved. This metal anode 2, is fastened to the top of the insulating plate I, while the grid or other control element, preferably also flat, but whichmay be curved, is fastened to the bottom of the insulating plate I. The insulation is cut away, and the elements are widely spaced on the insulation. The grid is also riveted, or otherwise fastened, to insulating plate I. Note that the grid 3 and anode 2 elements are so shaped that there is a wide spacing between the parts of the elements that actually touch the insulating material. Obviously, the grid and plate elements could be of different sizes and areas, and the grid or anode, or grid and anode is divided into a plurality of separated parts, each of which is similarly supported by the anode like parts 2, 2 of the divided anode of Fig. I. Plate are usually in one piece. Referring to Fig. III, which is similar, anode 2a in a modified form is divided at the dotted line I3 into 2 separated parts of desired sizes. Similarly the grid, or control electrode, 3a, of Fig. I in a modified form is divided into 2 or more separated parts of desired sizes, like parts 2, 2 of the divided anode of Fig. I.

The lead to the mount of Fig. I, like lead I5 in one form is stiff, or flexible, and is brought from a point upon them as shown by leads 5 in Fig. II. Lead I5 in Fig. I is stapled with staples '30 or cemented to the insulating plate I, or passes straight through plate I, especially when plate I, is of laminated mica, the leads could pass between the mica laminations, which themselves are spaced on insulating pillars or otherwise.

One or more cathodes, 4, are supported from plate I on rivets or pillars 8, and these cathodes pass in any desired direction with respect to the grid or plate elements. Hole or holes 6 in anode 2, are used when the element assembly is used for cathode-ray tube purposes. Any number of such holes could be arranged in the anode 2 of Fig. II.

Fig. III is a difierent form having thin insulating pillars 3|, plate element 2a, control element 3a, cathode or filament 4. The insulating pillars could be cylindrical with insulating rivets passing through them, and the circular plates. Plate, grid, and cathode elements could be curved. The mount of Fig. III is like that of Fig. I. In Fig, III, VII are heater leads passing into the cathode or cathodes which are circular plates. 3a in Fig. III, is the grid in this case. The plate 2a or element i8 or both could be out along dotted line I3 into 2 separated parts. Likewise cathode 4 could be divided into 2 parts, each of which parts could have a separate heater. The various elements could overlap as desired, and there could be a stack of any number or arrangement of elements for any of the constructions illustrated.

Fig. IV is a fragmental plan view of a modified form of tube with a rectangular form of electrode support. It is a modification. I is the insulating plate, 2 is the anode element, 3 is the grid behind the anode. The mount is otherwise similar to Fig. I or Fig. III. Either Fig. I or Fig. III mounts could be mounted on stiff leads as shown in Fig. IV. 4 of Fig. IV is the heater or the filament with its leads, which could pass out through the glass envelope, or could pass down through the mount support.

The mounts of Fig. II and of Fig. III, can be mounted in a laminated or two-part case as in Fig. V where 5 are leads from the elements, and i0 and l i are optional leads for grid 3 and anode 2. 9 are the bolts which hold top and bottom together in thi particular envelope.

Fig. V1 is plan view of the insulating plate lb of Fig. I modified having opening i2b. 2b is the metal plate of a radio tube, 31) is the tubes grid, and lb is the filament which may be straight or bent. The elements are all efficiently supported within the hole in the insulation with no insulation between them, and the leads to the elements can pass out through the insulation or be stapled (like in Fig. I) or cemented to the insulation. One of the elements could be supported from above the insulating plate lb like plate 2a of Fig. III is supported above plate 3. In general, the features illustrated can be combined in mounted forms. For lead 15b, in Fig. VI, a series of holes in the insulation provides a very low loss lead support. The laminated pieces of the insuiation could, of course, be grooved, or cut away in any desired manner so that there is less insulation between leads, or against a lead or leads.

The grid could be omitted from any of the element assemblies, the remaining cathode and plate being an efiicient ultra-high-frequency rectifier tube. A mount could also have but one of the elements, the mount being used with other mounts to complete a'tube, or the elements on the mount could be mounted side by side instead of one above the other as plate, grid and cathode arrangements of Fig. VII or Fig. IX for examples.

Any type of cathode could be used, or the cathode could be hollow and flat like a plate and contain an inside heater wire in any usual way. Cathode 4, of Fig. III, is such a flat plate cathode. This cathode can be circular, square, or other shape, like the grid and anode with which it cooperates in Fig. III.

The leads can be one or more from any element, these leads preferably being in the plane of the element. All leads through the case should preferably be radial through the case and in one plane.

The element assembly could be supported from one or more sides or supports of the vessel of the tube. In Fig. IV, support is from one side of the enclosing vessel on still leads 5. In Fig. V, the mount is held entirely around the case.

My method of grouping and supporting the several electrodes applies equally well to neon, X-ray, and many other types of tubes.

The element mounts can be mounted in various ways and in various directions. The elements need not be parallel, and there can be more than one of each.

If 4 elements are used, they could be a cathode two grids, 2a and 3, and a plate l8, one above the other, as in Fig. III, with element H3 in place. I prefer three grids at least, two of which can be used as a screen, being closely spaced to the grid between them, and greater in area than the grid between them.

In FigfV, the element assembly could be raised in the case so the element 2 could be cemented against the top of the case, in which case, a hole is (shown dotted) could be drilled in the case top exposing the element 2 to the air. If the plate itself were against the top of the tube, the wall next to the plate should preferably be grooved to reduce insulation losses. The invention is not limited to any position of the elements or element mounts with respect to the top, bottom or sides of the case in which the elements are mounted. i

The mounts could be supported by their leads through the envelope of the tube, or be held between parts of the tube or slots in the envelope or by other means. The elements can be arranged as desired on the mount, a simple group of elements or a plurality of such cooperating groups on the same mount. The tube may contain one or more cooperating element groups arranged on one mount or on different mounts. The separate mounts can be arranged as desired in the same envelope. The mount of Fig. VI could be divided into various parts; for example, each element lead like lead [Eb of VI could pass over a separate insulating plain, or drilled piece, before reaching the case walls. Or each lead could pass t rough a tube or extension from the case walls similar to leads 5 in IV.

The upper lead 5 in V could be stiff to support the plate above the mount and separate from it.

The mount of Fig. I could have only the anode and cathode on it, or the anode alone on the mount, or the grid alone on the mount, or. the cathode alone on the mount. When one element is arranged on the mount, the other elements could be mounted on another mount, or as many elements as desired could have their own mounts.

Figures VII and VIII show further application of the invention. In VII, case 2311 has sup ported within it three mounted elements plate 2 la, grid 22a and cathode or filament 23a. Each of these mounted elements can be like Fig. VI having plate element 2b only in place on the insulation l; or each element can be like Fig. I when it has only plate 2 in place on the insulation A. 2m of Fig. VII can be a plate, 22a a control element, (fiat or curved control element), and 230. a cathode or parallel separate or series cathodes, like the cathode 4 of Fig. III.

In Fig. VIII, a metal plate Zlc replaces the mounted plate Zia of Fig. VII, and a stiff metal grid 22c replaces the mounted grid of Fig. VII. 24 of Fig. VIII is a cathode mounted on an insulating plate 230.. 26 of Fig. VIII is a clamping means for the laminated case. Obviously, there can be various combinations of mounted elements mounted within the airtight vessel 29 of Fig. VIII as shown in Figures VII, VIII and IX which possible and obvious combinations of the fully described forms, mounted as in the drawings, are claimed.

Fig. IX is another arrangement of the invention in a solid or laminated case which case parts are held together with bolts. is arranged on an insulating mounting plate 21; the grid 22?) is also arranged on an insulating mounting plate 28 which plate is in spaced relation to the mounting plate 21 under plate 2lb. Similarly, cathode 24 shown in end view is mounted on an insulating plate 29 in spaced relation to the insulating plate 28 upon which the grid is mounted. This arrangement of elements, lying flat, and edge-to-edge, can be made in various ways having mounted and umnounted elements, as for the other form of the invention. Leads from the elements, can be brought out through the case in the plane of the elements, as for the other forms of the invention.

Fig. X is another arrangement where the element leads B are quite stifi, are threaded, and are held and cemented in the case walls by cement and nuts, A, P on the heavy leads B to the ele- I ments D and C. Pillar insulators, K, between elements, provide a very rigid mount. The elements are held together by means of insulating rivets which pass through the cylindrical insulating pillars K, or by other similar means.

The elements in any arrangement can be held together as desired; for example, by cementing the insulation to the element; providing slots in the element into which the insulation is forced under pressure; the use of plastic rivets, or by other means.

The elements can be of desired thickness, and preferably quite thin, for very high frequencies. But the elements could be conducting coatings of any kind on such material as quartz, or other suitable high-frequency insulating material. For example, element 2 in Fig. V could be of polystyrene plastic having an acquadag coating on its entire under surface 25, as shown shaded. The mount of Fig. V is similar to the mount of Fig. I.

I claim:

1. An electron discharge tube having an envelope having an encircling horizontal groove in the inner wall thereof, a perforated dielectric plate held by said groove, a flattened cathode attached to said plate parallel thereto and spaced therefrom, a grid also attached to said plate and covering the perforations therein, and a fiat anode on the opposite side of said plate from said cathode, parallel to said plate and attached thereto.

Here the anode 2 lb.

2. A radio tube having an envelope, a rigid dielectric plate horizontally athwart said envelope, said plate having an aperture therein, a fiat anode upon one side of said plate covering said aperture, a fiat grid against the under side of said plate also covering said aperture, means clamping together said anode, plate, and grid, and a cathode below said grid attached to said plate and spaced therefrom.

3. An electron discharge tube comprising an envelope, a central perforated plate athwart said envelope, spaced cathode, grid, and anode elements attached to said plate, only two of said elements being on one side and only one on the other side of said plate.

4. A radio tube having an envelope, a perforated dielectric plate athwart said envelope, an anode attached to one side of said plate, a grid lying against the opposite side of said plate and attached thereto, and a cathode attached to said plate but spaced therefrom and on the opposite side of said grid from said anode.

5. A radio tube having a cupshaped receptacle, an inverted cupshaped cover fitting over said receptacle forming therewith an airtight envelope, the lip of said receptacle having a recess, the lip of said cover having a recess, said recesses cooperating to form a groove between said receptacle and said cover, a dielectric disk athwart said envelope with its edges in said groove, means clamping together said receptacle and said cover, said disk having an aperture, a flat anode attached to one side of said disk covering said aperture, a fiat grid attached to the opposite side of said disk also covering said aperture, and a cathode below said grid and spaced therefrom and from said grid.

6. A radio tube having an envelope, a fiat, dielectric, horizontal disk athwart said envelope, said disk having a central orifice, fiat horizontal electrodes in contact with said disk, attached thereto and covering said orifice one above and one below said dielectric disk, and a third electrode supported at a distance from said disk within said envelope.

ABRAHAM BINNEWEG, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,343,849 Binneweg, Jr Mar. 7, 1944 2,354,908 Binneweg, Jr Aug. 1, 1944 1,854,375 Harding, Jr Apr. 19, 1932 1,814,327 Nicolson July 14, 1931 2,256,297 Smith et al Sept. 16, 1941 1,854,375 Harding, Jr. Apr. 19, 1932 1,716,153 Rottgardt June 4, 1929 2,166,744 Seelen et al July 18, 1939 2,091,047 Kaufleldt Aug. 24, 1937 1,961,192 Bowles June 5, 1934 2,244,358 Ewald June 3, 1941 2,195,914 Baier Apr. 2., 1940 2,303,166 Laico Nov. 24, 1942 2,002,667 Knoll May 28, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 106,540 Australian Jan. 31, 1939 

